Store-service apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shea. 1. H. D. B. WILLIAMS.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 516,461. Patented Mar. 13, 1894.

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STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,461, dated March 13, 1894.

Application filed May 15, 1893. Serial No. 474,333. (No model.)

To all whom it may conce rn:

Be it known that I, HUBBARD D. B. WIL- LIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to store service apparatus, and aims to improve and increase the efficiency of this class of apparatus; the present invention being largely an improvement on the store service apparatus for which on April 1st I filed an application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 468,668..

The invention will be more particularly set forth hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the application of the invention; before either end of the track wire hasbeen lowered Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a modified form of hanger having an independent guide rod for the propelling bar. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a further modification showing the guide rod adjustable to and from the perpendicular independently of the hanger. Fig. 4. is a side elevation of a hanger showing a still further Imodification. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the coupling ends of the sections constituting the hanger. Fig. 6 is an end view of the retainer. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View of the rod N and the parts through which it passes. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the retainer.

Similar letters and numerals in the several figures refer to corresponding parts.

The hangers at the ends of the main or track wire M are preferably formed of two sections or parts 0 and O, which have their inner or opposing ends pivotally connected by a screw-bolt 2, which passes through the approximately circular or expanded ends of the said parts, the latter being serrated on their meeting sides to prevent the parts from slipping after they have been adjusted and the bolt 2 is screwed up tight. The lower ends of the hangers are braced by suitable guys 3. Castings I and J are attached to the hangers to form supports for the propelling bars E. Grooved pulleys 4 arranged at the inner ends of the supports or castings I and J receive the propelling bars E and re lieve the friction when said bars are moved vertically. If it is preferred to use a cord, as 7, to operate the bar E, the castings I and J will be extended and provided at their outer ends with guide pulleys 5 and 6, the cord or rope 7 being attached at its lower end to the bar E and passing up over pulley 5 and down through casting I within convenient reach as shown to the right in Fig.1.

The motor wire 8 for propelling theoar 9, is attached to the inner end of the arm F of the propelling bar E, and to the line or track wire M at a distance from the hanger. A slide G is placed on the hanger and to it is fastened the main line wire. A roller 9, journaled in the outer part of the slide, travels on the hanger to relieve friction when moving the slide vertically by suitable means. I preferably employ the vertical rod N, which passes through the casting I and has its upper end swiveled or pivotally mounted in the slide: this rod having projections it near its upper and lower end which are adapted to engage in a slot or recess a in the casting I; so that by turning the rod' N by the handle A at its lower end to free its projections n from recess '5 it may be raised, thus raising the slide G, and locked in that position by turning it to bring its lower projection n into the recess 71; or the rod and slide may be lowered and secured in that position by engaging the upper projection n in the recess 2'. A spring 0 mounted on the hanger between the arm F and slide G forms a cushion for the arm F when the bar E drops after being elevated, and'at the same time keeps the wires 8 and M slightly separated at their ends to form a brake to stop the car as it approaches the terminus of the line, as will be readily understood.

The retainer, a device to temporarily hold the car at the end of the line, is composed of an arch or inverted U shaped piece 10, parallel wires 11 attached at their outer ends to the arch piece 10 and at their inner ends to the arm F. The arch piece 10 is arranged at right angles to the track wire M, and is provided with lugs 13 to which a gate 12 is hinged.

This gate has a notch let in its lower edge to.

receive the, motor wire 8, and is constructed of noiseless material. As the car approaches the end of the line it rides under the gate, raising the free lower end of the latter, which then closes or drops and retains the car in place. On elevating the propelling bar E the retainer is simultaneously raised, and releases the car, which is propelled by the angular separation of the motor and track wires, as will be readily understood.

When desired, a guide rod K may be employed to support the propelling bar, the grooved rollers 15 being interposed between the guide rod and propelling bar, the latter fitting in the grooves of said rollers, where it is held by the tension of the motor wire. The journals of the rollers 15 travel on the outer side of the vertically slotted guide-rod in the same manner set forth in my previous application before referred to. This guide rod K may be relatively fixed as shown in Figs. 2 and i, or pivoted as shown in Fig. 3. In the latter case the guide rod is pivoted to the lower casting I, and the upper casting J is slightly curved and slotted longitudinally; and the upper end of the guide-rod is secured thereto in the required position to which it may be adjusted by a screw-bolt j passing through said slot. It will be seen that by having the lower portion of the hanger, or the guide rod K, adjustable to and from the perpendicular, that the track can be readily adapted for up or down grades, or a horizontal line; this being an important feature of my invention.

In Fig. at is shown a construction to prevent the slipping of the rollers or grooved wheels 15; which consistsin cog teeth 16 on the sides of said rollers orwheels and a rack 17 for the cog teeth 16 to mesh into. The journals of the rollers or wheels 15 travel on plain bearing surfaces 18 on the sides of the racks 17, the racks being arranged farther in than the plain bearing surfaces, as shown in the said view.

To adapt the track wire to the grade the lower portion of the hanger, or the guide rod K, is adjusted to or from the perpendicular in the manner before described, and said track wire is raised or lowered by means of the rod N and slide G. To propel the car the propelling bar E is raised which separates the wires 8 and M and drives or propels the car in the manner which will be readily comprehended. As the car reaches the other end of the line its speed will be gradually checked by the slight separation of the ends of the wires 8 and M due to the spring 0, as before set forth. As the car nears the end of its travel it will compress the wire 8 down upon the track wire and ride under the pivoted gate 12, the latter closing behind the car and retaining the same at the end of -the line against the tension of spring 0 and the motor wire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a hanger, and a propelling rod havin g the motor wire attached thereto and means for adjusting said propelling rod to and from the perpendicular, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a hanger, a guide rod adjustable to and from the perpendicular, guide rollers movable on the guide rod, and a propelling bar having the motor wire attached thereto and movable vertically over the said guide rollers, substantially as set forth.

3. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a hanger composed of sections which have their meeting ends expanded and serrated on the inner sides, a threaded bolt pass ing through the expanded ends to hold the sections together in the adjusted position, the track wire attached to the hanger, and a propelling rod having the motor wire connected therewith, substantially as set forth.

1. In a store service apparatus, thecombination of a hanger, a slide movable on the hanger and having the track wire connected therewith, a propelling rod, and a motor wire attached to and movable with the propelling rod, substantially as set forth.

5. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a hanger, a slide movableon the hanger and having the track wire attached thereto, a propelling rod having an arm which extends over the said slide and has the motor wire connected therewith, and a spring disposed between the said arm and slide, substantially as set forth for the purpose specified.

6. In a store service apparatus, the combination of a hanger having a casting provided with a slot or depression, a slide movable on the hanger and having the track wire attached thereto, and a rod passing through the said casting and attached to the said slide, and having lateral projections which are adapted to be engaged with the said slot or depression on turning the rod, to hold the slide at the desired elevation, substantially as described.

7. In a store service apparatus, thecombination of a hanger having the track wire attached thereto, a guide rod having a straight bearing surface, and having cog teeth, guide rollers movable over the guide rod and having their journals traveling on the said plain. bearing surface and having cog teeth which mesh with the cog teeth of the guide rod, and a propelling rod movable on the guide rollers, and having the motor wire attached thereto, substantially as set forth.

IIO

8. In a store service, apparatus, the eombito form a brake for the car, substantially in to nation of ahanger, the track wire attached to the manner set forth. the hanger, a propelling bar having an arm, In testimony whereof I affix my signature in and having the motor wire attached thereto, presence of two witnesses. 5 a retainer carried by and movable with the propelling bar, and havingagate to close be- HUBBARD WILLIAMS hind the car, and a spring to support the pro- Witnesses: 7 pelling bar in its lowest position and hold the WILLIAM H. BOWERS, motor and track wires separated at their ends ISAAC A; CAIN. 

